Best Ethnic Food Store

Jay International Food Co./Global Foods Market

Because both of these markets -- Jay's and Global -- are owned by members of the same family, we're treating them as, well, identical cousins and bestowing the "best" mantle on them jointly. Whereas Global adores a minuet, smoked sturgeon Russe and crê pes Suzette, our Jay's store likes to rock & roll and its produce makes us lose control -- what a wild duet! City cousin Jay's has, appropriately, a touch more of an urban edge to it but also rewards you with the possibility of shopping at the many other ethnic stores and eating in the wide variety of restaurants that line the South Grand strip. Country cousin Global is a bit bigger and offers a wider selection of standard "American" supermarket fare, and you can always wander the quaint shops of old-fashioned downtown of Kirkwood if it suits your fancy. It seems like you can always find a way to expand your culinary horizons at either place, both of which have vast inventories of fresh, frozen, canned, baked, smoked, candied, deli and other ingredients that have traveled here from virtually every nook and cranny of the world.